Gilthead sea bream is the most farmed Mediterranean finfish species. Crowding stress during grading, transport, and harvest is a primary welfare concern requiring mitigation strategies.
Gilthead sea bream are particularly stress-sensitive, showing prolonged cortisol responses to handling and crowding. Standard grading and harvest procedures impose significant acute welfare costs. Optimising procedures to minimise crowding duration, using anaesthesia during invasive procedures, and implementing electrical stunning before slaughter represent a welfare improvement pathway for this important species. Certification schemes including GLOBALG.A.P. are beginning to include welfare criteria for Mediterranean sea bream production.